Johannesburg - Having completed a Soweto TV learnership, the young Tankiso Phakadisa from Katlehong, in the East Rand, has new hope for the future.
From a disadvantaged background, Phakadisa was once one of the many South African youth who did not have the funds to further her studies.
“After matriculating I so wished to further my studies, but it was impossible because my parents had no money … that was when I heard through word of mouth that Soweto TV in partnership with Limco Consulting were offering MICT SETA-accredited learnerships.”
She was accepted for an Information Technology System Support Learnership NQF level 5 and received a stipend during the duration of the course.
Among the courses that they offered were certificates in Business Administration NQF level 4 as well as Film and Television Operation Production NQF level 4.
“That was one of the happiest days of my life,” said the beaming Phakadisa, who was one of the 136 learners who graduated on Tuesday evening after undergoing training and successfully completed the station’s learnership programme.
Deputy Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni Abrahams also joined in celebrating the joyous occasion.
Going forward Phakadisa said her aim was to further educate herself as much as possible.
“My next step is to enrol in a qualification and to get a job so that I can support my family.”
Many learners like Viwe Gxwala were grateful for the opportunity. “Thank you for making it possible for us. For giving us a freedom of choice and to be accountable and to be masters of our own destiny.”
Soweto TV is the first community broadcasting channel to run a successful and accredited learnership programme.
Soweto TV Chairperson Meshack Mosia regards this achievement as a significant milestone for the station.
“This piece of paper is important and should not be taken for granted,” said Mosia, who announced that the station has absorbed 12 of the graduates.
Mosia assured that the station has great plans for the development of youth and the Soweto community at large.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Deputy Minister Abrahams told the learners that the graduation was a start to them making their own contribution towards changing and moving South Africa forward.
She also called on the learners to start recognising the potential in each one in order to grow the economy instead of competing with one another.
She said government alone cannot address the socio-economic challenges facing the country such as the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
As such it needed various stakeholders to play their part.
“Lack of, and poor education affected employment possibilities, work performance and even mobility prospects for many of our people,” she said, before expressing gratitude to Soweto Television for the initiative to assist government address the shortage of skills.
“This initiative is a testament that our government made the right decision to invest in community media such as this one. This is good value for money and by providing learnerships, you have advanced the vision of this government of a better life for all.”
Soweto TV currently attracts over 3.1 million viewers and employs over 100 people, of which 80% are local young people. – SAnews.gov.za
Deputy Minister of Communications Stella Ndabeni Abrahams at the Soweto TV learnship graduation.
